Review: “Is This The Moment?” By Bash Ft. Aysia

“Where do we go from here?”. Aysia asked this question seeking answers at the beginning of the poem. Bash gave answers word by word, line by line, asking questions if we’ve already been there or this the time we will get to our destination.

“Is this the moment we’ve all been waiting for?” The speaker reminisces “Drum beats of promise sounding across the land”. His first thoughts centred around Africa, before focusing more on Nigeria later in the poem.

A free country at war with itself by its own people is what Nigeria was almost becoming. “To wake up at dawn without news of bomb blast” is one of what the speaker identified to have the moments we’ve all been waiting for. “Bring back our girls” was no ordinary quote. Some are back and others are still enslaved to their oppressors.

Refineries that should feed the nation is feeding mostly looters. “Wailings of political siren to sound so low.” He talks public disturbance and how much politicians and worship places contribute to it. The speaker also talks about phobia for guns when held by thieves, not security personnels, and corruption being a disadvantage to growth of the economy.

Bigotry is a disease most Nigerians live with. The speaker can be heard voicing his dream of a Nigeria where “Criteria for me to be your friend has nothing to do with my tribe” and “The definition of our collective is neither clan nor region.”

The speaker also talks those who put their lives at risk for ordinary Nigerians to be protected. “Our gallant soldiers will serve with honour and be honoured”. He highlighted the difference between being street smart and being a beneficiary of bad governance. He also addresses sex workers and how much good governance will help curb the wide spread. “The cost of school fees will not drive my sister to sell her body for bread”

One doesn’t need a sooth sayer to tell this poem was recorded in 2014. The speaker spoke about his desire for the Nigerian currency, Naira, to stand, among other things that he desires for the giant of Africa to return to being the giant it was before.

Repetition of a particular question was a catchy point in this message. I’m of the view that the poem was released on independence day hoping for the then 54th birthday of Nigeria to bring everything we’ve all been waiting for. Aisha’s chorus at the beginning and end emphasized more on the message from Bash. A perfect combination of talents.

I am one one to always blow horns of great Nigerian men, and Agunyi Ironsi,Tafawa Balewa, Olusegun Obasanjo, Murtala Muhammad, Shehu Shagari, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi Awolowo, whose efforts helped in solidifying the north, south, east and west that we all proudly call home today, did not go unmentioned by the speaker in the poem.

The speaker ended by saying “Let this be the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” A reflective message of hope asking “Is this moment” is nothing short of a worthy listen. The question now is: Are we there yet or we are still waiting for our moment to come?

Wildkhard [TA]